Santa Clara County, CA Business Licensing & Operations: Secondhand Dealers (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $30.00 application
- Renewal fee
- $30.00
- Inspection
- records + property on request
- Scope
- unincorporated area only
Summary
Secondhand and junk dealers operating in unincorporated Santa Clara County must hold a county license, pay a $30 fee, and produce business records and acquired property for inspection on request.
Pursuant to the authority provided in Article 4 of Chapter 9 of Division 8 of the Business and Professions Code (Business and Professions Code § 21625 et seq.), the County of Santa Clara establishes the following requirements for the conduct of secondhand dealer business in the unincorporated area of the County. ... The fee for processing an application for a license under Business and Professions Code § 21641 shall be $30.00 in addition to any fee required by the Department of Justice. The fee for renewal of a license shall be $30.00.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Division B20 of the County Ordinance Code requires anyone conducting a secondhand dealer business in the unincorporated area to comply with state licensing requirements under Business and Professions Code § 21625 et seq. Dealers must produce business records for inspection by the Sheriff or designated officers, hold acquired property unaltered for the state-mandated retention period, and pay a $30.00 application fee plus a $30.00 renewal fee to the County in addition to any Department of Justice fee. This applies only outside the county's fifteen incorporated cities.
Violations & Fines
Refusing to produce records or property for inspection under Section B20-3 or B20-4, or operating without the required license, can lead to license denial and referral for prosecution under the underlying state secondhand-dealer statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this apply inside San Jose or other cities?
Who can inspect a secondhand dealer's records?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
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